(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading Tell me, were you able to abstain?’
abstainverbUS /əbˈsteɪn/
refrain from voting
From this reading Tell me, were you able to abstain?’
filled with fear or apprehension
From this reading ‘I am afraid that your constitution will suffer, Evans, if you continue these regular—or rather irregular—excesses.’
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading Next morning early, Mr. Effingham was enjoying the fresh, cool air when Dick marched up to him.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading ‘Believe me, I got drunk, sir,’ answered the veteran, ‘but I’m all right now till New Year’s Day.’
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading ‘I am afraid that your constitution will suffer, Evans, if you continue these regular—or rather irregular—excesses.’
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading ‘Believe me, I got drunk, sir,’ answered the veteran, ‘but I’m all right now till New Year’s Day.’
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading ‘Believe me, I got drunk, sir,’ answered the veteran, ‘but I’m all right now till New Year’s Day.’
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading ‘Believe me, I got drunk, sir,’ answered the veteran, ‘but I’m all right now till New Year’s Day.’
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading ‘Well, Evans,’ said Effingham, ‘Christmas Day is over.
constitutionnounUS /ˌkɑːnstəˈtuːʃən/
law determining the fundamental political principles of a government
From this reading ‘I am afraid that your constitution will suffer, Evans, if you continue these regular—or rather irregular—excesses.’
continue a certain state, condition, or activity
From this reading ‘I am afraid that your constitution will suffer, Evans, if you continue these regular—or rather irregular—excesses.’
neither warm nor very cold; giving relief from heat
From this reading Next morning early, Mr. Effingham was enjoying the fresh, cool air when Dick marched up to him.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading ‘Well, Evans,’ said Effingham, ‘Christmas Day is over.
someone who is a detective
From this reading Next morning early, Mr. Effingham was enjoying the fresh, cool air when Dick marched up to him.
stupefied or excited by a chemical substance (especially alcohol)
From this reading ‘Believe me, I got drunk, sir,’ answered the veteran, ‘but I’m all right now till New Year’s Day.’
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading Next morning early, Mr. Effingham was enjoying the fresh, cool air when Dick marched up to him.
Effingham
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Next morning early, Mr. Effingham was enjoying the fresh, cool air when Dick marched up to him.
enjoyingverbUS /ˌenˈdʒɔɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “enjoy” — derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in
From this reading Next morning early, Mr. Effingham was enjoying the fresh, cool air when Dick marched up to him.
EvansnounUS /ˈevənz/
United States anatomist who identified four pituitary hormones and discovered vitamin E (1882-1971)
From this reading ‘Well, Evans,’ said Effingham, ‘Christmas Day is over.
excessesnounUS /ˌekˈsesɪz/
plural of “excess” — a quantity much larger than is needed
From this reading ‘I am afraid that your constitution will suffer, Evans, if you continue these regular—or rather irregular—excesses.’
recently made, produced, or harvested
From this reading Next morning early, Mr. Effingham was enjoying the fresh, cool air when Dick marched up to him.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading ‘Believe me, I got drunk, sir,’ answered the veteran, ‘but I’m all right now till New Year’s Day.’
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Next morning early, Mr. Effingham was enjoying the fresh, cool air when Dick marched up to him.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading ‘Believe me, I got drunk, sir,’ answered the veteran, ‘but I’m all right now till New Year’s Day.’
I'm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Believe me, I got drunk, sir,’ answered the veteran, ‘but I’m all right now till New Year’s Day.’
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading ‘I am afraid that your constitution will suffer, Evans, if you continue these regular—or rather irregular—excesses.’
irregularadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈreɡjələr/
contrary to rule or accepted order or general practice
From this reading ‘I am afraid that your constitution will suffer, Evans, if you continue these regular—or rather irregular—excesses.’
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading ‘Well, Evans,’ said Effingham, ‘Christmas Day is over.
past form of “march” — march in a procession
From this reading Next morning early, Mr. Effingham was enjoying the fresh, cool air when Dick marched up to him.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Tell me, were you able to abstain?’
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Next morning early, Mr. Effingham was enjoying the fresh, cool air when Dick marched up to him.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Next morning early, Mr. Effingham was enjoying the fresh, cool air when Dick marched up to him.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading ‘Believe me, I got drunk, sir,’ answered the veteran, ‘but I’m all right now till New Year’s Day.’
immediately following in time or order
From this reading Next morning early, Mr. Effingham was enjoying the fresh, cool air when Dick marched up to him.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading ‘Believe me, I got drunk, sir,’ answered the veteran, ‘but I’m all right now till New Year’s Day.’
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading ‘I am afraid that your constitution will suffer, Evans, if you continue these regular—or rather irregular—excesses.’
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading ‘Well, Evans,’ said Effingham, ‘Christmas Day is over.
on the contrary
From this reading ‘I am afraid that your constitution will suffer, Evans, if you continue these regular—or rather irregular—excesses.’
in accordance with fixed order or procedure or principle
From this reading ‘I am afraid that your constitution will suffer, Evans, if you continue these regular—or rather irregular—excesses.’
precisely, exactly
From this reading ‘Believe me, I got drunk, sir,’ answered the veteran, ‘but I’m all right now till New Year’s Day.’
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading ‘Well, Evans,’ said Effingham, ‘Christmas Day is over.
term of address for a man
From this reading ‘Believe me, I got drunk, sir,’ answered the veteran, ‘but I’m all right now till New Year’s Day.’
undergo or be subjected to
From this reading ‘I am afraid that your constitution will suffer, Evans, if you continue these regular—or rather irregular—excesses.’
express in words
From this reading Tell me, were you able to abstain?’
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading ‘I am afraid that your constitution will suffer, Evans, if you continue these regular—or rather irregular—excesses.’
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Next morning early, Mr. Effingham was enjoying the fresh, cool air when Dick marched up to him.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading ‘I am afraid that your constitution will suffer, Evans, if you continue these regular—or rather irregular—excesses.’
up to a particular time
From this reading ‘Believe me, I got drunk, sir,’ answered the veteran, ‘but I’m all right now till New Year’s Day.’
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Next morning early, Mr. Effingham was enjoying the fresh, cool air when Dick marched up to him.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Next morning early, Mr. Effingham was enjoying the fresh, cool air when Dick marched up to him.
veterannounUS /ˈvetərən/
a serviceman who has seen considerable active service
From this reading ‘Believe me, I got drunk, sir,’ answered the veteran, ‘but I’m all right now till New Year’s Day.’
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Next morning early, Mr. Effingham was enjoying the fresh, cool air when Dick marched up to him.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading ‘Well, Evans,’ said Effingham, ‘Christmas Day is over.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Tell me, were you able to abstain?’
at the time that
From this reading Next morning early, Mr. Effingham was enjoying the fresh, cool air when Dick marched up to him.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading ‘I am afraid that your constitution will suffer, Evans, if you continue these regular—or rather irregular—excesses.’
Year'snounUS /jɪrz/
possessive form of “year” — a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading ‘Believe me, I got drunk, sir,’ answered the veteran, ‘but I’m all right now till New Year’s Day.’
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Tell me, were you able to abstain?’
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading ‘I am afraid that your constitution will suffer, Evans, if you continue these regular—or rather irregular—excesses.’
